Alumni Spotlight: Justin Richards, Pharm.D. ’19
Veterinary Pharmacist at Covetrus, Portland, Maine
The Alumni Office recently interviewed Justin Richards, Pharm.D. ’19, (JR) about his UNE experience and career.
How do you describe your professional self?
JR: I'm a professional and motivated pharmacist who has dedicated my life to the advancement of public health. My experiences have provided me with an eternal gratefulness for life and all it has to offer.
Tell us about your current position.
Currently, I’m working as a veterinary pharmacist for Covetrus. We process prescriptions from veterinary offices and ensure they're safe and appropriate, then mail them directly to the patient's owner or caretaker. My role has consisted of learning and applying clinically pertinent information on drugs only seen in specific species populations as well as how drugs developed for human use can be reformulated, re-dosed, and repurposed for use in pets. Vet medicine is a unique and expanding space of practice in the field of pharmacy to which I had little exposure before joining Covetrus.
The greatest lesson I learned at the UNE School of Pharmacy is that we as health professionals never stop learning. UNE taught me how to find and learn new information on the fly and ensure I'm practicing at the top of my license.
What advice would you give to students who are just starting out in their program?
JR: You're all in the same boat together, and I cannot stress enough how important it is to learn how to lean on one another. Learn how to recognize when you, yourself, need help, and learn how to recognize when someone else is falling overboard so you can lend a hand. Your studies are very important, but they are not everything. One of the greatest struggles I witnessed my colleagues having was balancing studying, work, extracurricular activities, and their personal lives. There is no perfect formula to finding this balance, but you must remember that there is indeed a balance.
What advice would you give to current students who may be job searching or graduating soon?
JR: It’s important to balance what is important for you professionally. Leadership roles, research projects, academic honors, publications, and civil service endeavors surprisingly weigh comparably to each other upon graduation. I’ve seen many brilliant colleagues miss out on killer residency opportunities or career opportunities because they focus too hard on one specific thing. And in a world where ranking and computer algorithms dictate whether or not your CV is even seen by the right person, you owe it to yourself to have a diverse spread of involvement to help yourself in the future.
Another piece of advice I would offer students who are graduating soon is to never stop looking for advice. Being open and receptive to feedback and constructive criticism is arguably the greatest gift you can give yourself. It is really hard to be critiqued. Personally, this is something I really struggled with in school, but if you can tackle that and learn to take constructive criticism, it'll pay dividends in the future. I suggest you seek out advice and feedback from colleagues, professors, loved ones, and bosses who you currently trust. You'll learn how to take criticism with grace. If you don't become receptive to critiques now, you won't be able to distinguish between good and bad criticism in the future. The skill is a major make or break for a lot of professional careers, so consult those you trust and always work to be better.